LAST SEASON: SIUE finished 2017 at 7-10-1 while adjusting to life in a new conference. The Cougars were 5-4-1 at home and 2-5 away from Edwardsville. SIUE finished 2-3 in their first Mid-American Conference season and earned a spot in the four-team MAC tournament.

SERIES STUFF: SIUE and Cincinnati have seven previous regular-season matchups in their history. The Bearcats own a 4-3 advantage in the series. The last meeting, in Edwardsville in 2013, featured a 2-1 overtime win for Cincinnati.

ROSTER OVERHAUL: The Cougars roster will have a different feel to it for 2018. SIUE lost six players who played in at least 11 games last season, including first-team All-MAC selection Devyn Jambga and goalkeeper Kyle Dal Santo, who played every minute in goal over the last two seasons. To compensate, SIUE has added 14 players to its roster since the end of last season. That group includes seven true freshmen and four NCAA Division I transfers.